Generator Only Runs at Half Choke

[Mike S]

Go buy some Sea Foam. Add it to the gas tank and let it run for a good long time.
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Seafoam as PawPaw noted is great stuff.

Question for PawPaw, Abraham, or anyone else with Seafoam experience.

Will it help with a non-starting lawnmower that has sat for several months with stale gas??

[rdcrags]

I know it sounds strange after all of the testimonials, but I had trouble starting the generator only when I had run it dry. Almost had to have it hauled off to the lawnmower shop for servicing, it was so screwed up. Consequently, I never let it run dry anymore and have no problems starting it, even after being gone for 3 months. I do use stabilizer at recommended dosage, though.

[Pawpaw]

Go buy some Sea Foam. Add it to the gas tank and let it run for a good long time.
.

Seafoam as PawPaw noted is great stuff.

Question for PawPaw, Abraham, or anyone else with Seafoam experience.

Will it help with a non-starting lawnmower that has sat for several months with stale gas??

Probably not. It can't dissolve crud unless it can get to it. If yours won't start, it's probably clogged up.

First things first, though. Pull the spark plug and check it out. Many manufacturers are installing very cheap spark plugs that don't last long. If you decide to replace it, stick with one of the name brands.

[Surgeon]

Just an FYI: Aviation fuel is (100 LL) is ethanol free. Its expensive compared to auto fuels. Upwards of $3.50/gal but since you're only buying a few gallons...what the heck?
Also its a handy little tip to know if you're ever strapped for fuel, like during a hurricane and live near a small community airport.

Do you think that running leaded gas can cause a problem?

Problems with the EPA maybe , but I don't think leaded fuel will hurt most engines. However, it WILL hurt a catalytic converter, so if your generator has one, then yes, leaded fuel should be avoided. (INFO) But I am completely unaware if most smaller engines, generators included, are designed with a catalytic converter in the exhaust system these days .....although I would suspect they aren't, because they are very expensive parts.

[sidebar]
I can't speak to motorcycle engines these days as I haven't had one for a couple of decades now, but bikes back in the 90s could easily run on leaded fuel if you could find it. In fact, they seemed to prefer it, as they tend to have higher compression ratios than 4 wheeled vehicles have. We frequently used leaded aviation gas when running races at Willow Springs, and we used NASCAR leaded gas when running races at Riverside Raceway. The two gas stations located at the foot of the Angeles Crest Highway in La Cañada California both sold leaded gas, the primary customers being motorcyclists who were headed up the Crest for a day's ride for years after unleaded fuels became mandated.
[/sidebar]

In any case, leaded gas, if you can find it, probably won't hurt any small, non-automotive, internal combustion engine. But all of that said, Leviathan is trying to control all of that too:

• http://bordercenter.org/chem/smallengines.htm
• EPA regs for small engines

The "Greenies" have been targeting civil aviation for decades. Kinda like the anti-gunners who know nothing about either industry. Lead fuel prevents engine knocking (post and pre-ignition at altitude). If they had their way engine failure would be common along with unplanned forced landings. On another note: I've run leaded gas in my vehicles but not enough to damage the catalytic converter. About 5:1 gallons gas to AV fuel. Just makes it run better. Its good to know that leaded is still available though or was that some time ago?

[The Annoyed Man]

Its good to know that leaded is still available though or was that some time ago?

Sorry to say, that was some time ago. The last time I saw leaded gas at a gas station was in the early 1990s. The last time I saw leaded av gas or NASCAR gas was probably around 1990, which was when I gave up roadracing.

[Surgeon]

Its good to know that leaded is still available though or was that some time ago?

Sorry to say, that was some time ago. The last time I saw leaded gas at a gas station was in the early 1990s. The last time I saw leaded av gas or NASCAR gas was probably around 1990, which was when I gave up roadracing.

I was wondering bout that...thanks

[E.Marquez]

Its good to know that leaded is still available though or was that some time ago?

Sorry to say, that was some time ago. The last time I saw leaded gas at a gas station was in the early 1990s. The last time I saw leaded av gas or NASCAR gas was probably around 1990, which was when I gave up roadracing.

If you have a local race track, you will find race gas,, Sunoco dealers have it avail in a regular pump style if they have the need, or hand pumped from 55 gal drums.
I buy SUNOCO Standard 110 leaded bulk from 55 gal drums hand pumped locally
http://www.sunocoracefuels.com/fuel-finder
Or I buy VP fuel in 5 gal cans

[Surgeon]

Its good to know that leaded is still available though or was that some time ago?

Sorry to say, that was some time ago. The last time I saw leaded gas at a gas station was in the early 1990s. The last time I saw leaded av gas or NASCAR gas was probably around 1990, which was when I gave up roadracing.

If you have a local race track, you will find race gas,, Sunoco dealers have it avail in a regular pump style if they have the need, or hand pumped from 55 gal drums.
I buy SUNOCO Standard 110 leaded bulk from 55 gal drums hand pumped locally
http://www.sunocoracefuels.com/fuel-finder
Or I buy VP fuel in 5 gal cans

[Weg]

I have never used it, but my buddy swears by Trufuel. They sell it both in a pre-mixed version for 2 strokes, and a non mixed version for 4 strokes. Lowes and I think Home Depot carries it. He has been running it in his chainsaws and the like and has not had any carburetion issues since. Your problem is very common, I have had it multiple times with my Honda generator and riding lawnmower. This despite the fact that I store them with stabil. The process that I follow every time is - 1. Get it revved up as high as I can and stuff wadded up, wet rag in the venturi until it stalls, if you can get a good seal with the palm of your hand you can do it that way. If you do the wadded up wet rag trick, make sure it does not get sucked in. This has worked for me many a time when the idle or main jets were clogged. 2. If that does not work I go for the - let it run for an hour or so with seafoam in it, that works sometimes also. 3. Last resort, and biggest pain is disassemble the carburetor and blow out everything with compressed air. One word from experience, make sure you do not have a clogged or collapsed fuel line, seen that with 2 strokes a couple times, did not troubleshoot it right and thought it was a plugged main jet. I felt pretty stupid after a tore the carb down, blew out everything, only to later find out it was a fuel line that had basically melted on the inside and collapsed.

[rdcrags]

The last time I saw leaded av gas or NASCAR gas was probably around 1990, which was when I gave up roadracing.

Leaded avgas is still predominant. http://generalaviationnews.com/2015/10/ ... ded-avgas/